alexander



(No Model.)

E. H. ALEXANDER.

LAWN TENNIS APPARATUS. No. 266,598. Patented Oct. 31, 1882.

ELIZA H. ALEXANDER, OF NEWYORK, Y.

LAWN-TENNIS APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,598, dated October 31, 1882. Application filed September "I, 1882. (N0 model.)

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZA H. ALEXANDER, of the city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Lawn-Tennis Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the acccompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention in lawn-tennis apparatus has reference to a device which I denominate a ball-lifter, it being composed of spring-arms secured to a suitable handle, and so constructed that when pushed down against a ball the arms will pass over upon the periphery of the ball and grasp it with sufiicient firmness to permit the ball to be raised from the ground to the hand, thus obviating the necessity of the player stooping to the ground whenever the ball is to be picked up.

In this embodiment of my invention 1 have applied the ball-lifter to the handle of the racket; but it is obvious that it might be applied to a suitable rod or staff.

Figure 1 represents a racket provided at one end with a ball-lifter, the latter being shown as engaging and holding the ball. Fig.2 shows a lifter having four arms, and Figs. 3 and 4 are modifications of lifters composed of wire.

The racket A is of usual construction. At

the end ofits stafl'or hand-piece (0,1 have added the ball-lifter B, it being composed, as therein shown, of three spring-arms, connected with the staff or hand-piece by a screw, 0.

In Fig.1 the spring-arms of the lifter are shown as having been pushed against and forced down over the ball D, the latter during such operation lying on the ground. The spring-arms press sufficiently hard upon opposite sides of the ball at or below its center to securely retain the ball in place between the said arms until removed by hand, when the arms approach each other for a limited distance. In Fig. 1 the arms of the lifter are shown as composed of flat spring metal. In Fig. 2 the litter is also shown as ot'spring metal, but as having four arms.

If desired, the arms may be of wire, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4:.

In Fig. 3 the piece of wire constituting the lifter has three arms, all, however, of one piece of wire, the wire for one arm being, however, doubled upon itself, the lifter being held in place by a staple, e.

In Fig. 4 two short pieces of wire are so bent that their free ends form spring-jaws, while a loop or eye, formed near the center of each piece of wire, serves to receive a screw, 0.

I claim- A racket provided with a ball-lifter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIZA H. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, W. H. Srcsron. 

